Empty D-Line Metro highlights folly of focus on public transportation

“Ride the D,” the LA Metro said, cheekily.But not even the X-rated slogan (or the racy merch that came with it) has enticed Angelenos to ride the newest extension of the light rail system.

The California Post visited the new D Line extension last Thursday, on rush hour — and the date of the opening of the World Cup.We found it virtually empty.There were Metro staff, and some homeless people — and that was it, in the gleaming, newly-opened stations.Public transportation has a role to play in LA.

But it is less important in LA than in San Francisco or in East Coast cities, which are far more dense.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story LA developed around the automobile.And while Angelenos complain about traffic, locals enjoy the freedom of having their own wheels.Trains are useful, especially when you want to get from the beach in Santa Monica to a concert downtown during the evening rush hour.

But most people don’t use them for commuting.And while trains might help for the World Cup, or during the 2028 Summer Olympics, these events represent, at most, a few weeks every couple of years.The money might well be spent better on our roads, which are in a terrible state.Trains suffer from what is called the “last-mile problem.”Once you arrive at a station, you usually still have one last mile — or several — to go.Given how spread out the city is, that can be a long distance to cover.

And hopping on an electric scooter parked near a station is not an option for anyone carrying anything, or for the elderly.(Or anytime it rains.)The LA Metro trains are also known for being overrun with homeless people, drugs, and crime.

Officials say homelessness is down on the LA Metro.But it’s still impossible to ignore.So are the constant warning me...